Aerodynamics, climate and ventilation in long rail tunnels considering an Andean base tunnel between Argentina and Chile / Aerodynamik, Klimatisierung und Belüftung von langen Eisenbahntunneln am Beispiel eines Basistunnels in den Anden zwischen Argentinien und Chile

For rail tunnels which are long, heavily used and intended for high-speed traffic, the aspects of aerodynamics, climate and ventilation may require particular design solutions. Pressure fluctuations require measures at the structures, the tunnel equipment and the rolling stock. Acceptable climate conditions are required despite heat input from the ground, rolling stock and/or technical equipment. The design of the mechanical tunnel ventilation system (TVS) is influenced by the geothermal and topographical boundary conditions as well as the occupational health and the safety requirements among other factors. In turn, the TVS influences the structural layout of the tunnel. The example of the Base Tunnel (BT) on the project Corredor Bioceanico Aconcagua (CBA) is intended to illustrate the importance of some of these aspects in a tunnelling project. The CBA is a planned rail link between Chile and Argentina with a length of about 215 km. An important component of the CBA project is a 53 km long BT (CBA-BT) which allows the most direct crossing of the Andes with moderate gradients. The BT is the subject of on-going conceptual studies.